International Journal for Equity in Health presents evidence relevant to the search for, and attainment of, equity in health across and within countries. International Journal for Equity in Health publishes research which improves the understanding of issues that influence the distribution of health and healthcare within populations. This includes the discussion of political, policy-related, economic, social and health systems- and services-related influences, particularly with regard to identifying and understanding the systematic differences or the lived experiences of one or more aspects of health in population groups defined demographically, geographically, or socially. Although there is a large amount of literature on the 'social determinants' of health, the journal focuses heavily on understanding what influences at the level of the individual, and, what influences at the community level. The literature is relatively sparse on studies that look at what influences the policy and political arenas, and is especially deficient in analyses that examine the population-attributable fraction of ill health resulting from social, behavioral, medical, or biological factors, and the interrelated contributions of these spheres of influence. Such information and the insight derived from it is required by policy-makers in order to make informed choices and evidence-based decisions, and this is the focus of International Journal for Equity in Health.